AN ASHBURTON TRAGEDY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14681, 12 May 1908, Page 2

AN ASHBURTON TRAGEDY.

THE INQUEST CONCLUDED. The adjourned inquest touching tha death of A. H. Penney, who was found dead in a. bedroom in the Somersets Hotel, Ashburton, on Wednesday, was continued before Mr W. TI. Rule, J.P., acting-coroner, and a jury at tha Courthouse at Ashburton yesterday.

A report from A. A. Biokerton, colonial analyst, was read, stating that the deceased’s stomach and a small phial given to him by the police contained oxalic acid, and he was oC opinion that it was the cause of death.; _ In reply to a question from a juror, Sergeant Fouhy stated that the police had made diligent inquiries but could not ascertain where the deceased had procured the poison. Without retiring the jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide by taking poison while in a state of temporary insanity.